Extremely rude doctor

[Picturesintheclouds08]

This is more of a vent than anything else.

In my GP practice you don't get a face to face, you get a phone call then a face to face if deemed necessary. That's fine, no issue with that.

You have to state what you are calling for to the receptionist so I stated stomach issues and period problems.

The doctor calls and asks how he can help.

I begin saying - I'm calling for Two things that may or may not be related.. one is a pain in my stomach, one is period pains.. he cuts me off right there and says .. I don't have time for a list of issues.

What's your stomach pain he asks - dull ache, coming and going, few centimeters to the right and below belly button, been going on few weeks. He says - it's just your bowels, it is very normal. I question that - I'm 36, never had this pain before.

Then I say - about my period - he goes - I don't have time to be talking about periods and all that, quickly give me the highlights. I could not believe the rudeness of him. Highlights - 12 days between a period, sometimes 7 weeks, extremely painful through to my back and bum - cannot physically move, blood clots, very heavy, would consider a hysterectomy it is that bad. (Took me about 30 seconds to give him that run down) Ok he says, i dont have time to deal with this today and you need to call back another day for a new appointment and request a female doctor.

I was gobsmacked at his rudeness. The phone call lasted under 5 mins. I understand they are under alot of pressure but his rudeness was terrible. I didn't realise you couldn't talk about 2 issues (that may be related) at the same appointment.

That sounds absolutely horrendous.
I'm not interested in "the nhs is in its knees" "health care is stressed" "doctors are tired" excuses. We are all people and in and out of work know fine well how to speak respectfully and empathetically. If this doctor cannot do that then they need their employment looking at!
Please register this as a complaint. If my mum for example had had this service she would be so devastated and it would have a massive effect on her. There will be many more liek my mum who no doubt spoke to this gp too!
Hope you're ok after that appointment! Absolutely not ok!!!

@Picturesintheclouds08 I am in the same boat where I’m considering hysterectomy. I was put on progesterone only pills after the birth of my daughter to stop periods completely but the doctor explained over the phone that sometimes if you don’t have periods at all the membrane can build up and attach to your organs (sorry if TMI) and that’s what he wants to investigate. My last doctor told me I didn’t need periods at all and the pills should stop all the pain but I don’t think it’s resolved the issue just masked it !?! Almost feels like whatever it is is pressing on my other organs so it’s hurts when I go to the toilet. He agreed it can be all connected.

Hope you get taken seriously asap I feel for you and agree the pain sometimes is horrendous. I said to my doctor I’m fed up with having to spend days in bed if I have a period. I also don’t want to mask the issue, I would like to know what’s going on so we can sort it out. Good luck OP keep us updated

It is a thing, but obviously any GP who isn’t a total idiot will not use it as a blunt instrument and effectively say ‘now quickly tell me about this pain but without telling me about any other painful issue you’re having in the same general part of your body unless it’s definitely connected to the first’.

How awful OP.

My mum died of bowel cancer because the docs downplayed her symptoms...

Not my field, and I appreciate that GPs work differently and have different pressures that I haven't experienced, but I don't think this sounds acceptable.
If, after initial triage, the doctor thought another colleague was more suitable to see you then fair enough but it could have been handled so much better. If he'd said something like "Dr Bloggs is one of my colleagues with an interest in gynaecological issues so please ring Reception and tell them I've recommended you make an appointment to see her" that would have been ok I think. The same outcome could have been reached in a much better way.
I also completely understand the policy of one issue per appointment, but it's designed to prevent people coming in with a long list of unrelated issues which can't realistically be dealt with in one consultation, not situations like this. I don't think you were at all unreasonable to wonder if the issues are connected and to bring them up together.
I would make an appointment with a female doctor as suggested but I also think it would be perfectly reasonable of you to complain. There should be a complaints process outlined on the practice website letting you know how to do it.
My only experience with complaints processes is in hospital so it might be different in General Practice but my advice would be to send emails if possible rather than write or phone. Keep a copy if you write on paper though. Keep things fairly concise and factual - bullet points are good. I used to deal with complaints when I was head of dept and actually I used to appreciate reasonable complaints as they can help bring about real change.
I hope you get a satisfactory outcome, both with the complaint and your health.

Op I don’t think you need a female doctor, my precious female doctor was very dismissive of any ailment I had (including periods) and made me reluctant to tell her anything. You just need a doctor (of any gender) who will listen. Complain to your gp practice and ask to see someone who will listen rather than dismiss - whoever they arrange for you to talk to will be told of your experience beforehand as they won’t want any issues.

Previous, not precious 😊

If I'd been waved out I'd have followed it up with a complaint.
We pay for this service

Report him! What a cu*t! No wonder it takes years to get diagnosed with endometriosis etc with dickheads like that practicing!

I had this exact same thing happen to me.. this was a year ago pretty much - I had lower back pain (still got) also pain in my knee and problems with my period.
The doctor (female) .. was like "I've only got time to talk about one problem".. but I thought maybe my back&knee were relayed or my back and periods.
I honestly give up with doctors.
I'm actually in pain now - pretty sure I have a UTI and I've done something to a rib/s and I just don't see the point in even trying. Just hoping it passes. I can't be asked with the 79 times (That's my record attempts) of trying to get through and I can't be asked with being fobbed off.

His behaviour was appalling.

However I think you urgently need to keep your focus not on his rudeness but on discussing with another Doctor the stomach symptoms and Period problems - as one whole issue - not two separate issues. Let the medical people decide if they are related. Please insist on a referral asap to have further investigations.

Absolutely - make a complaint. That was appalling behaviour, and very negligent on the part of the GP.

You were entirely right to suggest that the two issues might be linked and to describe the symptoms you’ve experienced from both. Good luck and be firm and persistent!

Poor you - sounds like you’ve had a hard time with this health problem.

My doctor told me I needed to meditate rather than refer me for a hysterectomy. I finally got referred after several A&E admissions.
some people should not be doctors.
I’m so sorry this happened to you. Remember it’s not normal and you shouldn’t have to put up with debilitating pain.
report him to your practice manager and keep seeing doctors until you find a good one

Me too, this is disgusting.

But these problems are quite possibly linked . This could be a very serious thing

Insist on being seen and soon.
Complain about the Doctor later.

I am furious for you. So so rude and dismissive. I would have been tempted to challenge him on the spot if I had had that treatment. But agree you should make a complaint.

In my experience, it is a waste of time complaining about unpleasant doctors. I had a very bad experience with one and went through a formal complaint and got an apology but it didn't feel particularly genuine and was a stressful process. I did get moved to someone else (hospital consultant) but with a GP I would just rebook an appointment with someone else. I think someone said up thread about presenting your period problems in a slightly different way, presenting the symptoms rather than generalising about periods. It's too easy to get dismissed as you found.

doctors don’t get sued for being nice, they get sued for missing something. If he’s rude and gets to the point he’s trying to get the symptoms to get to a diagnosis, which I’d much rather prefer than someone who asked irrelevant questions for 10 minutes but in a nice way?

They look to be two different issues, and probably it will be up to the female doctor to sort it all out.
A lot of doctors these days only deal with one issue in any appointment. It's crazy, but true.
Maybe he was rude, but I don't really think you are going to have any kind of case against him if you report it. If he dealt with your stomach issues, then he probably will not be expected to do any more.
Male doctors are still pretty misogynistic. Think Ignaz Semmelweis and take your issues to the female doctor. That doctor is more likely to connect period issues with stomach pain.

That sounds ridiculous OP. Surely the training for any doctor involves looking at the body holistically and making potential links between symptoms. And a big part of any good doctor’s skill will be the ability to join the dots between different symptoms.

Years ago I went to the doctor with what I thought was two unconnected issues - passing blood when I went to the toilet and also having very painful wrist and knee joints. After explaining my symptoms- which seemed disconnected to me - the GP said that Crohn’s disease causes the bowel issues plus as it’s an inflammatory disease it can cause arthritis in your joints. I had some tests and yes - it was Crohns.

Report him to the practice manager. Being rude and offhand can lead to serious consequences.
My son had a chest infection. He phoned the GP (after serious nagging) and got a phone appointment. GP diagnosed viral infection. Dr said to rest, fluids etc. It wasn't a viral infection. My son needed antibiotics which Dr would have known if he had listened to his chest. He ended up in A&E with pneumonia. In our case A&E Dr complained for us.

Sorry you’ve had this.

I’ve had this for years. You can only mention one ailment when it’s probably connected with another you want to talk about.

yes, sure they have their constraints but what this leads to is a reluctance to engage with GPs, and mistrust, which makes things worse in the longer term.

It's not always the male doctors that are dismissive- recently I had to go for an ultrasound to rule out cysts before they went down the menopause route. A doctor who I guess was in her early 60s was scanning me and asked what my gp had said. I told her it was suspected early menopause and she said "I'm sick of hearing about the menopause, its all you ever hear about. Its like no one in the past went through it. You can't even turn morning television on without them going on about it!". She then asked a nurse in the room if she had also noticed that. The nurse looked very awkward and didn't reply! I wish I'd have pulled her up on it and said it is a big concern for me and I'm glad there's more awareness but I was just shocked!
Anyway, I ended up seeing a brilliant practice nurse and then a doctor (both female) who went through all my options, really listened and put me on hrt. Hopefully you'll get someone as understanding next time but it is ridiculous that you're expected to make another appointment and that he wouldn't listen!

Def go back and demand tests. As someone else mentioned sounds like endometriosis which can only be diagnosed via laparoscopy. I have it and it’s painful and unfortunately under diagnosed good luck